The Memoirs of Jahāngīr (Jahāngīrnāma) 50: Ahmadabad.

50

I am at a loss to conceive what beauty and excellence the founder of this city saw in this wretched land, that he was induced to build a city here ; and how after him others also should spend the days of their precious life in this dirty place. Hot wind always blows here, and there is very little water. I have already mentioned that it is very sandy, and that the atmosphere is loaded with dust. The water is exceedingly bad and disagreeable ; and the river which runs along the outskirts of the city is always dry, except during the rains. The water of the wells is bitter and brackish, and that of the tanks in the outskirts becomes like buttermilk from the mixture of soap which the washermen leave in it. Those people who are somewhat affluent have reservoirs in their houses, which are filled with rain-water during the rainy season, and they drink from this supply during the whole year. It is manifestly very injurious to drink water which is never fanned by a breeze, and stagnates in a place where there is no passage for exhalation. Outside of the city, instead of verdure and flowers, all the ground is covered with zakúm (thorn-trees), and the effect of the air which blows over these thorns is well known. I have previously called this city Gardabad. Now I do not know what to call it — whether Samumistan (the home of the simoom), Bimaristan (place of sickness), Zakumdar (thorn-brake), or Jahannamabad (hell), for all these names are appropriate.